Page 52 of Bound to the Orc Hunter

The soft scruff of a footfall wakes me several hours later, at nightfall. I crack my eyes only the tiniest sliver, keeping mybreathing deep and even as if still asleep. Grace slumbers in my arms, her open mouth puffing tickling breaths against my shoulder.

My sword is only a couple of feet away, at the edge of the furs. I can—

“Peace be upon you,” Rune says quietly. “I mean you and yours no harm.”

“You can tell that I woke?”

“I am cu sith. Our hearing is even better than that of an orc.”

I roll onto my back, leaving my lower arm in place as my bride’s pillow. “Why do you disturb us?”

A breeze stirs the wisteria, setting the dripping ropes of flowers swinging. The faintest twinkle of stars shows in the purpling sky.

“Since it’s clear you’d be unable to hunt this evening, I brought you dinner.” At his feet rests a hare.

It’s been a long time since anyone hunted for me, and I’m touched that he thought of it. “Thank you.”

“It is a small service compared to that which you offer me and mine.” He dips his head and spins around, his black coat making him disappear from view under the darker night of tree cover.

Once he’s gone, I slide the rest of the way from the bed, pulling a fur over my bride. My knot has not yet subsided, and I yank on my trousers but am unable to close them. My shirt makes for an improvised tent, and truly a tent it is with my cockstand still jutting proudly forward. Thank the goddess Aurora isn’t here to see, or I’d never hear the end of her teasing.

I find a clear spot of ground several feet from my furs and lay a quick fire, heading even farther away to clean the rabbit for cooking. Only once it’s done do I wake my moon bound, plying her with hot meat, cool water, and the last of the apples.

The food is simple, but hunger adds all the spice I need, especially with such fetching company.

Naked but for the fur wrapped around her, Grace eats with good appetite, licking the salty grease from her fingers with a relish I love.

When she finishes with her thumb and forefinger, I snatch up her hand and bring it to my mouth, sucking on her other fingers and washing them with my tongue until she squirms.

I smirk, loving how responsive she is.

All of my careful stalking has brought my bride to my bed exactly as I planned. Yet I now find that’s not enough. I want everything from her.

It’s time to plan my next hunt, the one that will win her heart.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Grace

I’ve never had a morning after—no one’s ever wanted to spend the night before—so I’m not entirely sure what to expect, but I assume Branikk will be kind of cocky and distant, having so clearly mastered me in bed.

I’m so very, very wrong.

Oh, he’s cocky, all right, but if anything, he’s even sweeter than before.

He gets up before I do, rolling from the warm furs to start a small fire to make me a nice cup of hot mint tea.

I stay snuggled down in our bed, watching him, my body still sleepy and relaxed. I’ve never come so many times or been completely satisfied before. And the tentacles! I blush,remembering how they touched me, even in places I never thought to ask for—they just knew what to do.

Magic, as he’d say.

One thing’s for certain—he’s ruined me for all other men.

A bird sings, and a flash of yellow wings darts through the air to land on a hanging clump of purple flowers, setting them swinging. Morning sunlight bathes the air, making the flowers glow, and warming them enough that the lovely scent of lilacs fills the air. “This is such a lovely spot. I didn’t realize wisteria could be trees like this. I thought they were vines.”

“They often are, unless planted away from other trees to climb. Yet for a grove like this, I assume wood nymphs have helped them along.”

I sit up, clutching a fur to my chest, my head swiveling. “There are nymphs here? They saw us last night?” My voice ends on a squeak as embarrassment tightens my throat.

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